2020 Spiritual Resolutions — K.P. Yohannan

Trusting God in a New Year

A year has gone by so fast, so quickly. And we are now in the new year, 1230, or the year 220. And the amazing promise the Lord gave, I will never leave you nor will I forsake you. Sometimes we are confused, and I am.

When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, crisis, pain, and agonies and fears that we are nowhere to know why, and we don't see him, he is silent. But his promise remains true. The invisible one is still watching over us.

And his intentions and his plans, his thoughts are always good. And we cannot figure this out. But we must believe. And as the Holy Church, as we enter in this new year, it is my God-given responsibility to you, my children, to say a few things that I think are very, very important as significant decisions that you want to make to yourself as you enter into this new year.

Simplifying Life and Rejecting Materialism

And one, simplify your life. The world is full of fear and agony, and life has become self-destructive simply because of the love of materialism. Live as simple as possible, and contentment with godliness is great.

The worst enemy of your life is not the devil. But the money, the material things he uses is the means to destroy your life and walk with God. Please, think about it and see the scripture, what it says.

Forgiveness as a Way of Life

Second, it is bound to be, all through your life, there are people going to be hurting you, and you will hurt others. The only way to live is to forgive. Forgive because your forgiveness is conditioned.

As I forgive those who offend me and hurt me, O Father, forgive me, is His instruction. Yesterday, my day started about early morning, 5 o 'clock, and didn't have time to even stop. And my day will end around 12 o 'clock in the night.

But something happened that I had to attend a board meeting with people from different countries. During the an hour and half or two hours long significant meeting discussion, I said something very true and very correct, but not kindly, not in love.

So I decided, well, tomorrow I'll write a letter of apology and ask forgiveness. But as I lay down to sleep, the thought occurred, how do I know tomorrow morning I'll be alive? So I got up, went back to my study and took my pen and write this letter saying, please forgive me for my attitude of being unkind and unloving toward you in my speech.

And gave it to my secretary over the phone to type and send that mail to these couple of people. The reason I'm saying that to you, there's no other way to live than to say I'm sorry and then acknowledge.

Not this is your weakness. This came from your father and great father. No, this is sin. And acknowledge that and seek forgiveness. You will be amazed how much grace God gave you. Third, be part of the holy church.

Church is his most precious family here on earth. Brothers and sisters and husbands and wives will end with time, but the church will not. And coming to church, pausing to respect and make the sign of the cross and giving your tithes and offering faithfully and praying for your episcopals and priests and the work of the holy church and partaking from the holy communion.

All these disciplines are for you to understand the meaning of redemption. And you want to do that. And next, I would say, as the Lord gave you the grace, invest your resources for heaven because everything here on earth is going to be burned up.

Prayer and Heavenly Investment

And I would ask you to stop this habit if you don't. That is, pray throughout the day. When you are awake, the Jesus prayer, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, this sinner. And this, something like breathing, you do that, it will do wonders for your life.

Witnessing Christ Through Love and Service

And the next thing I want to ask you, we hear this always, be his witness. And that is, you are not going to be Christ's witness by preaching and screaming at people, but you are God, the living Christ to others as you touch them in their poverty, in their need, to go in the hospital and sharing your resources.

And God can only be the savior for others when they see you are a human being with God's love. And be unselfish in the way you deal with others and be kind. And make a commitment that this new year you'll read through the whole Bible at least one time.

And I would say, you want to make a list of people that you'll pray for every day, every other day, throughout the week, and ask the Lord to give you guidance for specific countries, regions, and things you'll be praying for.

And when I was barely 18 years of age, I remember I heard about a place like Albania. And I didn't know where this place was, but I prayed along with others for God to work. And today it's amazing to see how God caused His work flourish in these countries.

So you have this privilege, not a duty, to actually be the living Christ now on earth. And that is not a small spiritual thing, it's a massive reality. And believe that. And the last thing I would say is this.

Believing in God's Miraculous Power

Somehow this has been a three week long serious impression on my heart that the God of the Bible from the beginning till end is the God who changes water into wine, the crippled and the lame to get up and walk, the blind see, and the sun stands still, and give water from the rock, and food when there is no food, and clothes and shoes never grow old even after years and years.

And you find in the New Testament how Jesus, everywhere He went, He healed the sick. And you'll find one of the greatest witness for the living God is to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, forever.

Mark 16 He says, those who believe, and you believe in Jesus, these signs will happen, this will happen. You lay hand on the sick and pray in the name of Jesus and they will be healed. And you have the authority given to you when you meet people with demon possession to pray to Jesus and ask the demons to leave and they will leave.

This year, every one of you, our entire church, all members, should look for opportunity to pray for the sick and helpless people everywhere. Amazed enough, you'll be surprised how they are healed and how wonders and miracles happen.

And somebody don't get healed, that's not your problem. God's timing was not there, but we are told to be His witness. And that means 30 years of the Book of Acts, you'll find non-stop the miracles that happens.

The gospel of Christ without visible confirmation or change is not the real gospel. And that, you'll find in the New Testament. And today, believers, Eastern Church, all over, we see huge things are happening simply because people believe Jesus is real and He can heal.

And this year, let that be your experience and start right here in the community. Somebody is sick, you pray for them first and give them aspirin, no problem. But you'll be surprised if you lay your hand on them and pray in Jesus' name, they will be healed.

And you will see this happen all the time. And may this year be the year of greatest excitement of your life to see the living God alive, walking with you and giving you new hope. And never be afraid, never, that's what you read tonight.

Never be afraid, never fear the future, because He is your future. And have faith, not for bad things, but for the best things God has for you, no matter what it is, and trust Him.